Eagle football has eyes set on winning outright GLIAC title

Thursday

Nov 9, 2017 at 3:07 PMNov 9, 2017 at 10:31 PM

By Chris SnowT-G Sports Writer

After clinching a share of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with its last-second win over Grand Valley State last week, Ashland University’s football team will try to win the conference championship outright for the first time since 2012 when it hosts Saginaw Valley State Saturday afternoon at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.

Since losing Week 1 to Indiana (Pa.), the 10th-ranked Eagles (9-1, 8-0) have won nine straight games. A victory over the Cardinals on Saturday would virtually guarantee Ashland a spot in the NCAA Division II postseason as well as a home playoff game Nov. 18. A win would also give AU its fourth consecutive undefeated home regular season.

Ashland head coach Lee Owens isn’t thinking about last week’s win or the possibility of the playoffs — he’s focused on the here and now.

"It’s a big challenge," he said. "They don’t look like a 5-5 team on tape. They’ve lost to some really good teams. Everybody’s talking about last week and talking about the playoffs and forgetting the fact that we have to play on Saturday. ... This is the most important game of the year. Not last week, not next week. This is the most important game of the year."

Saginaw (5-5, 3-5) lost 35-21 to Northwood last week but had won three of four games in October prior to that defeat. The Cardinals, 2-3 on the road this year, have lost six of 10 meetings with the Eagles in Ashland.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Conklin leads a SVSU offense that averages 23.6 points and 368 yards of total offense per game. He has thrown for 2,088 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 57.9 percent of his passes. Redshirt freshman wideout Chad Gailliard has caught 36 passes for 773 yards, a 21.5-yard average, and seven touchdowns. Sophomore running back Tommy Scott Jr. leads the rushing attack with 933 yards and five touchdowns. As a team, Saginaw churns out 158 yards per game on the ground.

The Eagle defense has limited all 10 of its opponents this year to less points than they’re averaging and has held nine of its foes to fewer yards of total offense than they’re averaging. Ashland is tied for 10th in the country and is second in the GLIAC in scoring defense (14.2 ppg.). There may be a few a changes this week in the back end of the unit, as two of its secondary members are likely not going to play because of injuries. With nine players having at least 30 total tackles and 14 having at least 20 total stops, depth hasn’t been an issue for Ashland this season.

Edge rushers James Prater Jr. (16 tackles for loss, 43 total tackles, 6 sacks) and Austin Utter (10.5-39-7) lead the pass rush, while linebacker Clay Shreve paces the team with 59 total tackles, including 7 1/2 for loss.

Ashland will be without junior running back Andrew Vaughn on Saturday because of an injury suffered in last week’s game. Not having Vaughn will be a big loss for the Eagles, as the Black River product has really come into his own over the last several games. He has eclipsed 100 yards rushing four straight weeks, including three straight games with at least 150 yards and two scores on the ground. Keishaun Sims (359 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and Luke Ogi (158-1) will be counted on to step up and fill the gaping void left by Vaughn’s injury.

The Eagles do still have their one constant — quarterback Travis Tarnowksi. The senior signalcaller has thrown for 2,344 yards, 23 touchdowns and one interception while completing 61.4 percent of his passes. Banged up in its receiving corps, Ashland will rely on senior wide receiver Jamie Hence (20-275-1), who had eight catches against GVSU, to once again make plays this week.

Saturday is also Senior Night for AU, and Owens and his senior class would like nothing more than to extend their regular-season home-winning streak to 22 games.

"We’ve got a senior class that’s really accomplished a lot," Owens said. "We challenged our underclassmen to dedicate this game and this week to that group of seniors. I’m glad we’re at home. I’m glad it’s our Senior Night."

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